Another "Building My System" Thread!

Azyza · Jan 29, 2005

Hey, I'm new.. I'm building my own system and I'm pretty new to the technical part of computers (Less than a week.. heh) Well, here's another building my own PC thread.. I know it's not wise to build a PC with as little knowledge as I do, I'm onlky doing it because both my brother and sister are experienced in putting computers together.

This is a Gaming PC, that's why it's an Athlon, and I'm aiming for good no-lag performance in Halflife 2... (CounterStrike:Source to be more specific)

I'm on a budget in a sence.. I'll buy the parts I need... My main goal is to get good performance(Minimum lag) with the least money, here's what I have so far.

Case

SLK3700-BQE
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=93703

Motherboard:

MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-130-468&depa=0

Processor:

AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=19-103-463&depa=0

Video Card:

Apollo nVIDIA GeForce 6600GT Video Card, 128MB GDDR3, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, AGP 8X, Model "AGP 6600GT"
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-140-048&depa=1

Hard Drive:

Seagate 160.0GB w/ 8MB cache

Ram:

Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=20-146-299&depa=1

If there's anything you guys know that's cheaper and just as good, please post it! Thanks alot.. I need all the help I can get..

Also: How do i tell if Ram's good? PC-3200 I heard?

amol · Jan 29, 2005

looks good

w00t · Jan 29, 2005

i wouldnt get the 3500, so i could get the 6800gt instead of 6600gt get likea 3000 or 3200 i would go with 3200.
if u are going to overclock than get some good oc'ing ram
if ur not plain out get corshair valvue ram cas latency 2.5

maybe for u also socket 754 just a thought

Azyza · Jan 29, 2005

Well, 3500+ performs better than 3200 no? Plus, 6800GT is too expensive (I think).. What -is- overclocking? I know what it does, but like.. do you physically change hardware? or in your settings? and is it hard? I heard from someone that overclocking will burn out your stuff really fast.. Is there a way to overclock to a certain extent? So the PC will still last long?

Waylay00 · Jan 29, 2005

Well, to OC, you have to go into the BIOS of your system. Yes, it will shorten the lifespan of your parts (not much, so this really isn't a factor). One thing bad about coming to PC hardware sites, like this, is that most of the members just assume that everyone knows how to OC. There is an art to it. So since you are new to PC parts and hardware, I would stay away from it till you have more experience under your belt. Get the 3500+. Also, graphics technology is so far ahead of what software is currently out (save Doom 3) so that 6600gt will be sufficient till probably beginning of next year. However, the prices of the 6800GT are slowly decreasing, so give it about a month and just wait and the prices should be more reasonable. Good luck!

Edit, I see you have an MSI K8N Neo2 board, which uses the AGP graphics bus. I recommend picking up a new Nforce 4 board that uses PCI Express. There really isn't a difference in performance, but AGP is being replaced by PCIe. So next time you want to upgrade your graphics card, you won't have to get a new motherboard.

KoolDrew · Jan 29, 2005

Don't get an Apollo 6600GT. Get a Leadtek or something.

Azyza · Jan 29, 2005

Thanks Waylay. I live in Canada, so the local places don't have a large selection, can you tell me a PCI-E mobo that's as good as the Neo2 Platinum? Also, is the 6600GT PCIe version more expensive?

It'll probably take me a few months to get this all together so i might get the 6800GT if it drops in price.

Drew, thanks, I just chose a random company.. Cause I don't understand.. Geforce is a company? I'm not sure.. is Nvidia a company? I don't know. Lmao.. I'm such a noob.. Or is Geforce just the type pof card? even so, why do different companies make the same card? I'd think they'd give them different names.. Sorry, Thats the only thing I'm not too sure about.. heh

ts3433 · Jan 29, 2005

Chaintech has the VNF4/Ultra ($130 here in the US), MSI has the Neo4 ($160 here in the US). Check NCIX. The PCIe 6600GTs are actually a bit cheaper than AGP ones here, so it makes a bit more sense to go PCIe with that kind of setup.

NVIDIA designs the graphics chipsets and boards themselves. GeForce is their consumer/gamer line of cards, Quadro is their workstation line (though many of these are based directly off consumer cards, as with many ATI Radeons and FireGLs). Unlike ATI, nV does not sell actual cards under their own brand in addition to those sold by companies like EVGA, BFG, Leadtek, etc. They simply sell the design to these other companies, and most stay true to the reference board layout anyway. Differences between brands will usually be in their support, bundled software, HSFs, and possibly the exact memory chips used.

Chosonman · Jan 29, 2005

Originally posted by: w00t
i wouldnt get the 3500, so i could get the 6800gt instead of 6600gt get likea 3000 or 3200 i would go with 3200.
if u are going to overclock than get some good oc'ing ram
if ur not plain out get corshair valvue ram cas latency 2.5

maybe for u also socket 754 just a thought

Very sound advice. :thumbsup:
I would downgrade the CPU to get a better Graphics card. You'll notice a MUCH bigger difference in qualitiy and performance with a better graphics card than a slightly better CPU. A 3000 or 3200 should be good and with a good motherboard you should be able to clock to 3500 speed easily and you could use the extra cash for the 6800GT. Also go with value RAM the Cost/Performance ratio is just not there for more expensive RAM. You'll get 1% better performance for the most expensive RAM vs. Value Ram.
The Mushkin Dual Pack is good for you.

Overclocking is changing your BIOS settings to higher clock speeds. There are risks but these risks are minimal at best. Even if you don't overclock the difference between a 3200 and 3500 is less than a blink of an eye. You won't notice it but you'll definately notice the difference between a 6800 GT and a 6600GT.

ts3433 · Jan 29, 2005

He has value RAM picked out already, so that's covered.

The 3200+ is still a better value even if you don't OC; you'd likely notice no difference. However, you don't really need to go above the 6600GT unless you're running high details at 1600x1200, in which case a 6800GT is better. If you're content with 1280x1024 high details or 1600x1200 at more modest details, I'd wait for the next generation of cards.

Chosonman · Jan 29, 2005

Originally posted by: ts3433
He has value RAM picked out already, so that's covered.

The 3200+ is still a better value even if you don't OC; you'd likely notice no difference. However, you don't really need to go above the 6600GT unless you're running high details at 1600x1200, in which case a 6800GT is better. If you're content with 1280x1024 high details or 1600x1200 at more modest details, I'd wait for the next generation of cards.

True what you said about the card. :thumbsup:
Either card will work are both are very nice...
But if one want's to set everything on the highest quality settings "anti aliasing/everything on" etc.. then the 6800GT will handle it like a hot knife through butter. The 6600GT won't.

Tarrant64 · Jan 29, 2005

Originally posted by: w00t
i wouldnt get the 3500, so i could get the 6800gt instead of 6600gt get likea 3000 or 3200 i would go with 3200.
if u are going to overclock than get some good oc'ing ram
if ur not plain out get corshair valvue ram cas latency 2.5

maybe for u also socket 754 just a thought

I second that comment on the 754. It allows you to save a few more bucks and hardly notice a difference performance wise. Giving you more to spend on your GPU.

Chosonman · Jan 29, 2005

and a Socket 3400 Socktet 754 from what I hear is faster than a 3500 Socket 939

Waylay00 · Jan 29, 2005

Originally posted by: Chosonman
and a Socket 3400 Socktet 754 from what I hear is faster than a 3500 Socket 939

Well that's just wrong. It's a lower rated speed AND 939 supports dual channel.

Chosonman · Jan 29, 2005

ts3433 · Jan 29, 2005

Originally posted by: Waylay00

Originally posted by: Chosonman
and a Socket 3400 Socktet 754 from what I hear is faster than a 3500 Socket 939

Click to expand...

Well that's just wrong. It's a lower rated speed AND 939 supports dual channel.

3400+ (NC): 2.4 GHz, single channel
3500+ (either): 2.2 GHz, dual channel

You should know that AMD's PR rating system isn't always the most accurate thing in the world. That extra 200MHz on the Newcastle 3400+ does a little bit more for performance than the 3500+'s dual channel. I'd still go S939 at this point in the game, though.

HamburgerBoy · Jan 29, 2005

That machine is overkill for a well optimized game like Half-Life 2. I'd turn the 3500+ into a 3000+ to save $120, and you could also save $23 by getting this MSI instead, which seems identical to the one you listed. The video card is also faster than what is required, but considering even "old" ones like the 9700 Pro cost just as much, I guess it's your best choice. A 9600 Pro would save you $100, but it might lag a tiny bit so I wouldn't risk it.

Waylay00 · Jan 29, 2005

Wow, a couple of benchmarks. The 3500+ is a better CPU - face it. It's 939 (more upgradeable) and has dual channel memory.

Chosonman · Jan 29, 2005

Read my sig... and that's 15 benchmarks not a couple. It's ok to admit when you're wrong. We all live and learn.

Regarding upgradability. Contrary to what your parents might have taught you. Unlike other things in life you can't save for the future when it comes to technology or systems. This is because technology is always evolving and improving. So you can't buy something today and expect to use it tommorrow.

ts3433 · Jan 29, 2005

Originally posted by: Chosonman
Read my sig... and that's 15 benchmarks not a couple. It's ok to admit when you're wrong. We all live and learn.

Regarding upgradability. Contrary to what your parents might have taught you. Unlike other things in life you can't save for the future when it comes to technology or systems. This is because technology is always evolving and improving. So you can't buy something today and expect to use it tommorrow.

Benchmarks: The 3400+ is so much faster then the 3500+ since it's always 4 fps or 8 seconds (don't get me started ranting about the inaccuracies of synthetic benchmarks...), isn't it? :disgust:

Upgradability: While technology may always be changing, standards like AGP, PCI, and PCIe don't change much from year to year, if at all. These buses are designed for the long term, you know, so expect to be able to drop graphics cards in the same PCIe x16 slots for a long time to come. Future-proofing and upgradability in the computer world do exist; just not to the extent you are assuming (trust me, none of us on here are dumb enough to say something like "you'll able to put an FX-71 in the A8N-SLI later on no problem"... because we don't know what the future holds).

Chosonman · Jan 29, 2005

I never stated the 3400 754 was better than the 3500 939. I only stated that I heard it was faster. (Never said faster in what or how much faster)

Waylay00 stated what I said was not true. I provided proof. No one would say a Pentium 3 500Hz is faster than a AMD 643500 939 and get away with it right? Will I said something different and I got away with it.

And there is no such thing as "future proof" or upgradable. And it's "because we don't know what the future holds" (as you so elequently put it)

Here's my take on upgradability. Would you pay to buy a car with no stereo and sunroof to have the oportunity to add a newer one later or would you rather have one with everything alread installed now for the same price?

Waylay00 · Jan 30, 2005

Originally posted by: Chosonman
Waylay00 stated what I said was not true. I provided proof. No one would say a Pentium 3 500Hz is faster than a AMD 643500 939 and get away with it right? Will I said something different and I got away with it.

And there is no such thing as "future proof" or upgradable. And it's "because we don't know what the future holds" (as you so elequently put it)

Well there is quite a difference between a 3500+ 939 and a PIII...That's comparing apples to oranges practically. And onto the topic of upgradability. Say if you wanted to upgrade your video card next December to one of the best cards. By then, the best cards will all be PCIe, not AGP. Since S754 is not supported by a PCI-e chipset, the logical thing to do would be to go with 939, since it IS supported by PCI-e chipsets (NF4, K8T890, Xpress 200)

Azyza · Jan 30, 2005

Wow, I wasn't expecting all that. well... here's what Ive gathered from your guys's info.

Get a lower CPU (As it makes no real intense difference) I'll check out th 3000+ and 3200+ on newegg in a sec. I might edit with some questions.

Get a better Video Card with the money I saved.. I'll get a 6800GT if it's that much better. Getting 6800GT+ lower CPU would be faster than the 3500+ and 6600GT? (For gaming that is) right?

Well, My friend has a Video card much worse (I think) than this, and his HL2 looks great, he has a 2.8 Ghz Pentium 4, and it runs nice and smooth...

I'll OC a bit, I'll ask my sister how when the time comes (I'll check my performance, and decide if I need to OC)

What do you guys mean by this "Value ram"? I want it to be OCable.. but not too expensive (2x 512mb isthat I'm looking for) is the Mushkin I listed value? how do I tell? Or does that just mean it's cheaper? Heh. I'm such a noob.

I will in fact get 939 socket.. For Dual Channel.. I heard it's worth it for good gaming. The main thing I'm stuck on is if I should get a PCI-e Mobo or not, will it be cheaper? or worth it with all the new PCI-e technology that's coming out? What's a good PCI-e Mobo that can support the PCI-e 6800GT? also, is the 6800GT PCI-e more expensive than 6800GT AGP?

That machine is overkill for a well optimized game like Half-Life 2. I'd turn the 3500+ into a 3000+ to save $120, and you could also save $23 by getting this MSI instead, which seems identical to the one you listed.

Your link's broken, for me anyhow, what's the name of the MSI? I'm kind of looking towards PCIe now what you guys have told me.

Thanks guys.. So if you know some PCI-e mobos that are good please post!!

Azyza · Jan 31, 2005

Bump! Sorry -.-

Another "Building My System" Thread!

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